Prior expected to miss out on central contract

Matt Prior's up-and-down summer behind the stumps for England looks set to end in disappointment next week. He is expected to miss out on one of the 14 coveted central contracts being unveiled by the England & Wales Cricket Board.

Prior made a sparkling century against West Indies on Test debut at Lord's in May, after being hand-picked by England's new coach, Peter Moores, who was his mentor from the age of 13 at Sussex. But Prior has struggled since then, dropping crucial catches during the 1-0 series defeat against India and failing to replicate his form with the bat.

His omission from the list would leave England no closer to finding a long-term successor to Alec Stewart, whose retirement in 2003 left a void that men such as Chris Read, Geraint Jones and now Prior have all struggled to fill.

"We won't reveal the list till Monday," said England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney. "The selectors met as a group to come up with cricketing recommendations for cricket contracts. That list has gone directly to the board, who are discussing as we speak. We have done the list.

"We can go up to 16 names," added Graveney. "The criteria for awarding a central contract is to identify people who are heavily involved in international cricket over the next 12 months. Now, unlike in 2005 when we had a settled side, we have a number of players challenging for places. That has made central contract discussions lengthier than in the past. We have never, ever awarded a central contract to a one-day player only."

Three key figures in the 2005 Ashes victory - Marcus Trescothick, Simon Jones and the retired Ashley Giles - will not be having their contracts renewed, while three others - Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison - are expected to receive scaled-down deals, because they do not have any role to play in one-day cricket.

That leaves plenty room for a new clutch of players to take centre stage, and chief among these will be Ryan Sidebottom, who has enjoyed an annus mirablis after his unexpected return at the beginning of the summer, and James Anderson, who lost his contract last year but is now seen as the leader of England's new-look attack.

Stuart Broad and Ravi Bopara, England's young heroes from the ODI victory at Old Trafford last week, are also in line for a deal, although Bopara's withdrawal through injury from the ICC World Twenty20 may change the picture slightly. As for Andrew Flintoff, his ongoing ankle concerns highlight the importance of central contracts, to enable England to manage the fitness of their star performers.